We recommend American Home Shield as the best home warranty company in Montana because of its generous coverage caps and inclusion of preexisting conditions. We also recommend Choice Home Warranty for its affordable comprehensive plans priced below $70 per month, which makes it more cost-effective than many providers we reviewed.
A home warranty can benefit Montana homeowners, where extreme weather and harsh winters can strain home systems and appliances. With fluctuating temperatures and unexpected breakdowns, a home warranty covers essential repairs like heating systems, plumbing, and appliances while managing repair costs. After evaluating 13 top home warranty companies, we selected five companies as the best options for Montana homeowners.
Key Takeaways
- We selected American Home Shield as the best home warranty for Montana homeowners.
- The average cost of a Montana home warranty ranges from $36–$80 per month or $424– $931 annually.
- In our 2025 survey of 2,000 home warranty customers, 58% chose coverage as the most important feature they considered when shopping for a home warranty.
Montana’s Top 5 Home Warranty Companies
The highest-rated Montana home warranty companies include the following:
- American Home Shield: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
- Choice Home Warranty: Best Basic Plan Coverage
- Elite Home Warranty: Best for Customized Coverage
- AFC Home Warranty: Best Technician Flexibility
- Liberty Home Guard: Best Customer Support
Comparing Home Warranty Companies in Montana
The table below compares our top Montana providers based on key factors, including pricing, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, and service call fees. Service call fees refer to the charge you pay each time a technician visits your home to assess or repair an issue covered by your warranty.
| Company | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
B | $36–$100 | $100–$125 | ||
B | $60–$68 | $100 | ||
B | $45–$60 | $70 ($150 for after hours and weekends) | ||
B | $44–$82 | $75–$125 | ||
A+ | $57–$68 | $65–$125 |
Note: We based the pricing information in this table from average costs calculated using sample quotes collected from all 50 U.S. states for single-family homes both over and under 5,000 square feet. Your pricing may vary based on your home’s location, size, type, and selected plans.
BBB ratings are accurate as of March 2025.
Our Reviews of Montana Home Warranties
We’ll take a closer look at each top Montana home warranty provider below.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS) offers comprehensive major systems and appliance coverage alongside service call fee flexibility. Additionally, AHS covers unique instances other providers typically don’t, such as rust, corrosion, and sediment damage.
Why We Chose American Home Shield
American Home Shield provides comprehensive coverage for essential systems and appliances, with coverage caps reaching up to $5,000 for systems and $4,000 for appliances. Certain items, like electrical and plumbing, have no coverage caps, offering enhanced protection. It is also one of the few providers that covers preexisting conditions, which many other companies exclude. This makes American Home Shield a solid option for Montana homeowners with older systems and appliances.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers a flexible service call fee model that allows customers to adjust monthly fees for their budget
- Provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions and items damaged by rust and corrosion
- Sets generous coverage caps, up to $5,000 on built-in systems and $4,000 on appliances
Cons
- Doesn’t offer an appliance-only coverage plan
- Offers less coverage flexibility than most providers with only a few add-on options
Plans and Pricing
American Home Shield offers three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. We looked through American Home Shield’s sample contract directory and called a representative to ask about the company’s plans. The representative noted that AHS imposes a $5,000 coverage cap per covered system in its systems-only plan, ShieldSilver. ShieldGold adds coverage for appliances, which have a $2,000 coverage limit. ShieldPlatinum also combines system and appliance coverage, increasing its appliance limit to $4,000. This plan also adds roof-leak coverage, up to $1,000 in code upgrades, an HVAC tune-up, and air filter discounts.
AHS allows you to pull a quote by calling a representative or using its online tool. When we used AHS’s quote tool, it allowed us to choose a service call fee of $100 or $125. AHS states that a higher service call fee will result in a lower monthly premium and vice versa. All AHS plans come with a 30-day workmanship guarantee on any completed repairs covered by the plan.
While pulling our quote, we discovered that AHS only offers monthly premium options. Unlike other providers on this list, it doesn’t include an annual premium discount.
Here are details on each of American Home Shield’s plans:
- ShieldSilver ($29 per month): Covers 14 home systems, such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing
- ShieldGold ($39 per month): Covers 14 major systems and nine home appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry appliances, and refrigerators
- ShieldPlatinum ($107 per month): Offers ShieldPlatinum coverage and adds additional benefits, such as $1,000 for roof-leak repairs
- Optional add-ons: Electronics, pools/spas, guest units, roof leak, septic pumps, and well pumps
What To Expect
Our American Home Shield tester filed a claim for a bathroom and kitchen floor leak. After submitting the claim online, he received confirmation within five minutes and a call from a local contractor offering flexible appointment times. The contractor arrived the next day, completed the repair within two hours, and provided professional service, including advice on mold prevention. Our tester was satisfied with the service and only paid the service call fee.
Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty provides affordable plans for Montana homeowners who want basic coverage. The company offers combined coverage for systems and appliances for under $70 per month. Other providers, such as American Home Shield, charge $100 or more for the same level of coverage.
Why We Chose Choice Home Warranty
The company provides combined system and appliance coverage with $3,000 limits for each item, exceeding the industry standard in which many providers offer $2,000–$2,500 caps. By offering more financial protection for emergency repairs and replacements, Choice can help homeowners reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Backs plans with a 60-day guarantee on labor and 90 days for parts
- Includes a generous $3,000 coverage limit for most items
- Offers comprehensive coverage for less than $70 per month
Cons
- Excludes coverage for air conditioners, laundry appliances, and refrigerators from its lowest-tier plan
- Doesn’t offer systems-only or appliance-only plan options
Plans and Pricing
Choice Home Warranty offers two plans: the Basic Plan and Total Plan. We checked a Choice Home Warranty sample contract and confirmed that the Basic Plan doesn’t cover certain key items including clothes washers, clothes dryers, air conditioning, and refrigerators. These common household items are typically covered in basic coverage offered by other providers. If you need protection for these items, you must move to the Total Plan instead, which costs more each month.
Plans include a $100 service call fee, which doesn’t allow you to choose a higher or lower option to better suit your budget. However, you can select monthly or annual billing. Note that our sample quote showed that Choice Home Warranty charges a processing fee with the monthly option.
Here are more details about Choice Home Warranty’s plans and pricing:
- Basic Plan ($60 per month): Covers 14 systems and appliances including stoves, electrical systems, and dishwashers
- Total Plan ($67 per month): Covers 18 items, adding coverage for air conditioning, laundry appliances, and refrigerators
- Optional add-ons: Up to 10 add-ons, such as second refrigerators, septic systems, central vacuums, and well pumps
What To Expect
Our Choice Home Warranty tester submitted multiple claims but had mixed experiences with the company. For example, she filed a claim for her broken air conditioning and received a technician assignment after two weeks, resolving the issue in one day. However, when she requested repairs for a malfunctioning freezer and refrigerator, the company required three separate appointments to fix the issue. Additionally, technician assignment timelines varied, ranging from one day to a month.
Elite Home Warranty
We recommend Elite Home Warranty for homeowners who want flexible premiums and coverage. The company offers three base plans with a standard $70 service call fee, and 30 add-on options.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Includes a 90-day workmanship guarantee for completed repairs
- Offers higher coverage limits for high-end appliances
- Rolls your service call fee into your annual premium, avoiding a per-claim charge
Cons
- Charges a higher service call fee for high-end appliance repairs
- Excludes workmanship guarantee on repairs done with an out-of-network technician
Plans and Cost
When reading through an Elite Home Warranty sample contract, we learned that the company offers a $15,000 annual limit for all plans. This breaks down to a $7,000 claim limit for appliances and $8,000 for systems, which is a higher limit than many providers. However, claim limits vary among coverage items. For example, air conditioners receive up to $4,000 while electrical systems are capped at $2,000.
The company has a standard service call fee of $70. It charges $150 for high-end appliance repairs and service calls that occur after hours or on the weekend.
Below are the details of Elite’s coverage plans:
- Elite Appliances ($45 per month): Covers eight essential appliances, including cooktops, clothes washers, and dishwashers
- Elite Systems ($50 per month): Covers eight home systems, such as air conditioning, heating, and electrical systems
- Elite Complete ($60 per month): Combines the Elite Appliances and Elite Systems plans for comprehensive home protection
- Optional add-ons: Up to 30 options, such as drainage, water, and sewer lines, pool equipment, guest houses, septic systems, and annual HVAC maintenance
Our Experience with Elite Home Warranty
Our Elite Home Warranty tester filed a claim to repair his broken high-end dishwasher and received a call from a claims specialist within 30 minutes. He scheduled a next-day appointment, but the technician needed out-of-stock parts and returned the following Monday to complete the repair. Despite the delay, the technician finished the job within an hour. Overall, the tester was satisfied with the service and repair.
AFC Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty stands out for its technician policy, which allows you to choose your own contractor for repairs right from the start. This lets you work with your preferred local repair person for a more personalized and efficient service experience. Alternatively, most home warranty companies will assign you a technician from their approved network.
Why We Chose AFC Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty provides additional flexibility with its plans and coverage options. You can choose from four plans and two service call fees for better customization. The company also includes a workmanship guarantee that lasts for the duration of your policy, potentially saving you money on repeat fees if repairs fail.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Covers secondary repairs and replacement for the full duration of your service contract
- Includes no coverage limits for certain systems, including your HVAC
- Lets you choose your own service technician, which is a rare benefit
Cons
- Offers lower coverage caps than many competitors
- Includes a depreciation policy that applies to items five years and older
Plans and Pricing
AFC Home Warranty offers four plans: Silver Plan, Gold Plan, Platinum Plan, and Diamond Plan. The Silver Plan includes appliance-only protection, while the other three plans cover a mix of systems and appliances. We read an AFC Home Warranty service contract to learn more about coverage limits. The company varies coverage between items, with appliances receiving between $150 and $3,000 caps. Systems receive caps between $150 and $500, which is lower than many providers we’ve reviewed. However, cooling, heating, and water heaters don’t include coverage limits.
AFC Home Warranty offers both monthly and annual premium options, along with a choice of a $75 or $125 service call fee. You can also select a contract length of one or three years.
Below are AFC Home Warranty’s plans and monthly costs:
- Silver Plan (call for a quote): Covers appliances, including garage door openers, kitchen refrigerators, and stoves
- Gold Plan ($44 per month): Covers nine appliances and six home systems, including water heaters, electrical systems, and ductwork
- Platinum Plan ($51 per month): Protects 20 appliances and systems, such as plumbing stoppages, faucets, and refrigerator ice makers
- Diamond Plan ($82 per month): Includes Platinum Plan coverage, and adds coverage for electronics and exterior sewer and water lines
- Optional add-ons: Up to eight options, including electronics, in-ground pool and spa, roof leak protection, septic system coverage, standalone freezer, sump pump, and well pump
What To Expect
Our AFC Home Warranty tester filed a claim for a toilet that wouldn’t fill using the online form, but was later instructed to call in to complete the request. The first technician repaired the toilet, but the issue returned. The company sent a second technician to address the follow-up problem. Despite the multiple visits, our tester was satisfied with the overall process. She only paid one service call fee for the repair.
Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) offers three coverage plans, a 60-day workmanship guarantee, and more than 40 add-ons. LHG also provides accessible customer service via its live-chat feature on its website.
Why We Chose Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard offers the most extensive add-on catalog with 42 options, including unique services like gutter cleaning and pest control. Coverage also includes add-ons for professional kitchen appliances, pools, and guest houses. These options allow homeowners to streamline maintenance with a single provider.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee
- Offers 38 unique optional add-ons, including pest control and gutter cleaning
- Provides two additional months of coverage if you sign up for an annual plan
Cons
- Doesn’t allow plan price or service call fee customization
- Lacks transparency about service call fees during the quote process
Plans and Pricing
Liberty Home Guard offers three service plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. We read through Liberty Home Guard’s sample contract to understand what is covered in their plans and associated service fees. Unlike providers with flexible service call fees, LHG assigns a service call fee to your account based on your plan, add-on selections, and location. According to the representative we spoke with, service fees range from $65 to $125. All LHG’s covered items are subject to a $2,000 coverage cap, except for electrical and plumbing systems. LHG provides a lower $500 coverage limit for these systems. All covered repairs are subject to a 60-day workmanship guarantee, double the industry standard of 30 days.
Here are details on LHG’s plans and optional add-on coverage:
- Appliance Guard ($57 per month): Covers appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers
- Systems Guard ($62 per month): Covers built-in systems, such as air conditioning, heating, ductwork, and water heater
- Total Home Guard ($68 per month): Covers all the items in the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans
- Optional add-ons: Up to 42 options, including pest control, re-key service, gutter cleaning, floor cleaning, and generator coverage
What To Expect
Homeowners can pull quotes for Liberty Home Guard through its customer support line or with its online tool. The LHG tool requires your name, phone number, and email address to begin the process. Next, you’ll enter your home address, home type, and whether it’s smaller than 5,000 square feet. You can then switch between monthly and annual premiums to find the best fit for your budget.
LHG will send one of its in-network service technicians to repair your appliances. If there are no technicians in your area, the company will let you select your own.
Home Warranty Costs in Montana
A home warranty in Montana typically costs between $36 and $80 per month or $424–$931 annually. This range is slightly lower than the national home warranty average, which falls between $47 and $82 per month or $564–$984 per year.
Several factors impact these costs, including the level of coverage, the size of the home, and the type of systems and appliances covered. Additional features such as custom add-ons, service call fees, and the contract length can also influence the overall price.
What Is the Difference Between Home Warranty and Homeowners Insurance?
Homeowners insurance is required and protects your home and its items from damage during accidents, such as fires, floods, and thefts. A home warranty is optional and protects systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. To explore more about these service contracts, check out our article on what home warranties cover.
Who Can Buy a Montana Home Warranty?
Real estate agents, home sellers, first-time home buyers, and seasoned homeowners can purchase a home warranty plan. For home buyers and homeowners, a home warranty can save you time and money when a home system or appliance breaks down. Home sellers and real estate agents can benefit from one by including a plan in the closing process and enticing potential buyers to close.
Other Resources for Montana Residents
Our Rating Methodology
Our team followed a detailed rating methodology to objectively assess each home warranty company. We gathered data by speaking to company reps, analyzing quotes, reviewing sample contracts, and conducting surveys with homeowners. We also tested 11 home warranty providers firsthand and conducted secret shopping.
Based on our research, we scored each provider across six key categories we considered essential when choosing a home warranty. After assigning points to each factor according to its importance to homeowners, we totaled 100 points and converted the results into a 5-star rating.
Our weighted factors were as follows:
- Coverage: We rated the comprehensiveness of each provider’s coverage, paying close attention to whether companies cover standard and unique items. Providers with extensive coverage and higher annual limits received higher scores.
- Cost: We looked at the average monthly prices and service fees, awarding points to companies offering competitive pricing. Providers that don’t charge hidden fees or extra surcharges scored the highest.
- Trustworthiness: We examined customer ratings, BBB scores, and how companies handle complaints. Providers with high customer satisfaction and longer workmanship guarantees earned better scores.
- Plan transparency: We evaluated how well companies disclosed terms and policies in contracts and online. Providers with transparent, easy-to-understand documents scored higher.
- Customer support: We focused on the availability and quality of customer support. Providers that offer quick response times and multiple ways to file claims ranked higher.
- Flexibility: Providers with a wide selection of plans, add-ons, and flexible policies earned more points. Companies that allowed customers to choose their own technicians scored better.
